Norwalk adds bomb-detection dogs to K-9 Unit

Norwalk Police Department now has two explosive detecting dogs. Pictured is the field trial Labrador Luke.

Norwalk Police Department now has two explosive detecting dogs. Pictured is the field trial Labrador Luke.

Photo: Norwalk Police Dept. / Contributed Photo

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Photo: Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Patrol K-9 Hex waits for a command from his handler, Stratford Police Officer Jose Dias, during a demonstration of the dog’s skills at a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017. less

Patrol K-9 Hex waits for a command from his handler, Stratford Police Officer Jose Dias, during a demonstration of the dog’s skills at a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview … more

Photo: Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stratford Police Officer Stephen Santoro reaches to embrace his patrol K-9 Logan after Logan rans through a skills course during a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017. less

Stratford Police Officer Stephen Santoro reaches to embrace his patrol K-9 Logan after Logan rans through a skills course during a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview Bistro … more

Photo: Christian Abraham, Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stratford Police Officer Stephen Santoro demonstrates the skills of his patrol K-9 Logan during a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017.

Stratford Police Officer Stephen Santoro demonstrates the skills of his patrol K-9 Logan during a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday

Stratford Police Officer Ashley Vaughn brings out her patrol K-9 Rebel for a demonstration of the dog’s skills during a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017. less

Stratford Police Officer Ashley Vaughn brings out her patrol K-9 Rebel for a demonstration of the dog’s skills during a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, … more

Photo: Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Maggie Campbell, 2, of Stratford, gets a close-up view of patrol K-9 Hex with his handler Stratford Police Officer Jose Dias during a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017. less

Maggie Campbell, 2, of Stratford, gets a close-up view of patrol K-9 Hex with his handler Stratford Police Officer Jose Dias during a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s held at Riverview Bistro … more

Photo: Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stratford Police Department holds a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s: Hex, Rebel and Logan, held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017.

Stratford Police Department holds a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s: Hex, Rebel and Logan, held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017.

Photo: Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stratford Police Department holds a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s: Hex, Rebel and Logan, held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017.

Stratford Police Department holds a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s: Hex, Rebel and Logan, held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017.

Photo: Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stratford Police Department holds a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s: Hex, Rebel and Logan, held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017.

Stratford Police Department holds a meet & greet for the department’s three new K-9’s: Hex, Rebel and Logan, held at Riverview Bistro in Stratford, Conn., on Friday Sept. 1, 2017.

Photo: Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at the lodge on Hope Street in Stamford, Conn., Saturday Morning, July 29, 2017. Marie Malwitz the exalted ruler for the lodge said “we feel the K-9 dogs and their police handlers don’t get the recogntion they deserve. They do such a great job. My favorite dog is sergeant Phelna’s dog. What a beauty.” Malwitz said this is the fourth year they have held the event and on averaged each yeat have raised about $3,500 for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit. Sergeant Seth O’Brien who is in charge of the five officer five dog unit said “We are grateful for the support from the lodge and grateful for the opportunity to interact with the community.” less

Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at the lodge on Hope Street in Stamford, Conn., Saturday Morning, July 29, 2017. Marie Malwitz the exalted ruler for the lodge said … more

Photo: Bob Luckey Jr. / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at the lodge on Hope Street in Stamford, Conn., Saturday Morning, July 29, 2017. Marie Malwitz the exalted ruler for the lodge said “we feel the K-9 dogs and their police handlers don’t get the recogntion they deserve. They do such a great job. My favorite dog is sergeant Phelna’s dog. What a beauty.” Malwitz said this is the fourth year they have held the event and on averaged each yeat have raised about $3,500 for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit. Sergeant Seth O’Brien who is in charge of the five officer five dog unit said “We are grateful for the support from the lodge and grateful for the opportunity to interact with the community.” less

Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at the lodge on Hope Street in Stamford, Conn., Saturday Morning, July 29, 2017. Marie Malwitz the exalted ruler for the lodge said … more

Photo: Bob Luckey Jr. / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at the lodge on Hope Street in Stamford, Conn., Saturday Morning, July 29, 2017. Marie Malwitz the exalted ruler for the lodge said “we feel the K-9 dogs and their police handlers don’t get the recogntion they deserve. They do such a great job. My favorite dog is sergeant Phelna’s dog. What a beauty.” Malwitz said this is the fourth year they have held the event and on averaged each yeat have raised about $3,500 for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit. Sergeant Seth O’Brien who is in charge of the five officer five dog unit said “We are grateful for the support from the lodge and grateful for the opportunity to interact with the community.” less

Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at the lodge on Hope Street in Stamford, Conn., Saturday Morning, July 29, 2017. Marie Malwitz the exalted ruler for the lodge said … more

Photo: Bob Luckey Jr. / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stamford Police officer Mark Tymon, a member of the K-9 unit, with his German shepherd, Titan, doing a demonstration during the Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at the lodge on Hope Street in Stamford, Conn., Saturday Morning, July 29, 2017. Marie Malwitz the exalted ruler for the lodge said “we feel the K-9 dogs and their police handlers don’t get the recogntion they deserve. They do such a great job. My favorite dog is sergeant Phelna’s dog. What a beauty.” Malwitz said this is the fourth year they have held the event and on averaged each yeat have raised about $3,500 for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit. Sergeant Seth O’Brien who is in charge of the five officer five dog unit said “We are grateful for the support from the lodge and grateful for the opportunity to interact with the community.” less

Stamford Police officer Mark Tymon, a member of the K-9 unit, with his German shepherd, Titan, doing a demonstration during the Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at … more

Photo: Bob Luckey Jr. / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Stamford Police officer Mark Tymon, a member of the K-9 unit, with his German shepherd, Titan, during the Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at the lodge on Hope Street in Stamford, Conn., Saturday Morning, July 29, 2017. less

Stamford Police officer Mark Tymon, a member of the K-9 unit, with his German shepherd, Titan, during the Stamford Elks Lodge 899 fundraiser for the Stamford Police Department K-9 Unit at the lodge on Hope … more

Photo: Bob Luckey Jr., Hearst Connecticut Media

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Bridgeport Police K9 Officer Zeus was credited with helping find a9 -year-old special needs child who had wandered away from his home recently.

Bridgeport Police K9 Officer Zeus was credited with helping find a9 -year-old special needs child who had wandered away from his home recently.

Photo: Contributed Photo / Contributed Photo

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The Greenwich Police Department’s fifth annual Police Day at the Greenwich Public Safety Complex in Greenwich, Conn., Saturday, May 13, 2017. The public was given a hands-on opportunity to interact with the police in an event that featured a police motorcycle, the Greenwich Police K-9 Kato, a SWAT vehicle, scuba gear from the Police Marine unit as well as uniformed officers from the various departments of the Greenwich Police. The event was done in conjunction with the Junior League of Greenwich. less

The Greenwich Police Department’s fifth annual Police Day at the Greenwich Public Safety Complex in Greenwich, Conn., Saturday, May 13, 2017. The public was given a hands-on opportunity to interact with the … more

Photo: Bob Luckey Jr., Hearst Connecticut Media

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Norwalk Police Officer Dave Peterson with the K9 unit has his dog Rainor with him for a meet and greet and to tell the Kindergarten students at Tracey School something about the trained dogs police use, on Thursday March 2, 2017 in Norwalk Conn. less

Norwalk Police Officer Dave Peterson with the K9 unit has his dog Rainor with him for a meet and greet and to tell the Kindergarten students at Tracey School something about the trained dogs police use, on … more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff, Hearst Connecticut Media

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Bruno, Brookfield Police Department K9.

Bruno, Brookfield Police Department K9.

Photo: Contributed Photo, The News-Times

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K9 First Responder Inc. Executive Director Brad Cole walks around and introduces Spartacus Chooch an Akita K9 First Responder and therapy dog during the Region 1 Emergency Planning Team Preparedness and Response Field Day on Monday September 26, 2016 at Sherwood island State Park in Westport Conn. less

K9 First Responder Inc. Executive Director Brad Cole walks around and introduces Spartacus Chooch an Akita K9 First Responder and therapy dog during the Region 1 Emergency Planning Team Preparedness and … more

Photo: Alex Von Kleydorff / Hearst Connecticut Media

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New Milford Police Officer Mike Lafond works with his K-9 during a search and rescue drill in Clatter Valley Park on Saturday, April 16, 2016, in New Milford, Conn.

New Milford Police Officer Mike Lafond works with his K-9 during a search and rescue drill in Clatter Valley Park on Saturday, April 16, 2016, in New Milford, Conn.

Photo: H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Norwalk adds bomb-detection dogs to K-9 Unit

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NORWALK — The police force is putting more paws on the ground.

Two explosive detection dogs, black field trial Labradors named Luke and Indy, have been added to the Police Department’s K-9 unit. They join three German shepherds that are trained in narcotics detection.

Officer Ricky Montanez will handle Luke, and Sgt. Garrett Kruger will handle Indy. The teams completed 400 hours of training in April and will now be seen at special events around the city.

The dogs may be present where crowds are expected and the possibility of a bomb threat exists — parades, festivals, concerts, train stations and more.

“You may not always see us, but we’re always there,” Kruger said.

“As much as people want to pet the dogs, we ask them not to,” Montanez said. “When they’re working, they’re working.”

The dogs have been trained to detect explosives based on smell and can detect the odors of more than 30 such substances, including high explosives, low explosives, gun powder and flash powder.

At a recent demonstration of the dogs’ bomb locating abilities at Norwalk Police Headquarters, a canister of gun powder was hidden in a trash can. After sweeping the area, Luke stopped at the trash can, sat down and fixated on it.

“He won’t move now,” Montanez said.

Luke and Indy aren’t the explosive detection dogs utilized by Norwalk police, but there haven’t been any in service for several years.

The dogs were trained at Superior Tactics and K9, a company run by Reda, who is retired from the police force.

Other area law enforcement agencies with explosive detecting dogs include the Westport police, Stamford police, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department, Yale-New Haven police and Connecticut State Police.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Connecticut has been a leader in explosive detection canines.

“While there is a great need for explosives-detecting instruments, there is also a great need for law enforcement agencies to have an explosives-detecting canine capable of detecting explosives and firearms threats,” the agency’s website states.